§ Baroness Walmsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many competitions for new secondary schools there have been in 2003, 2004 and 2005 to date. [HL1003]
§ Lord FilkinThere have been no competitions for new secondary schools since the requirement for a competition for additional secondary schools was introduced in June 2003. The Education Bill currently before Parliament will extend the requirement for 73WA competition to all new secondary schools, including schools replacing existing schools as a result of reorganisation. unless the Secretary of State agrees that in a particular case the objectives of increasing the quality and diversity of provision could be met by other proposals commanding support in the area.
§ Baroness Walmsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many replacement secondary schools have been approved in 2003, 2004 and 2005 to date. [HL1004]
§ Lord FilkinThe numbers of proposals for replacement secondary schools approved since 2003 are as follows:
Year Numbers 2003 9 2004 7 2005 (to date) 0 These figures include proposals for new maintained secondary schools that have been approved by the LEA, school organisation committee or schools adjudicator under local decision-making arrangements. They include proposals for schools to be established as a result of local reorganisations and amalgamations and for voluntary or foundation schools with a religious character to replace existing community schools.
These figures exclude academies as they are classed as independent state schools and approved under separate arrangements. Funding agreements were agreed and signed for two academies as replacement secondary schools in 2003 and a further 11 in 2004.
§ Baroness Walmsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have abandoned their plans to give foundation bodies the power to establish new secondary schools. [HL1005]
§ Lord FilkinThe Government do not think it necessary to give foundation bodies explicit power to establish new secondary schools and are satisfied that that the existing provision for promoters to propose that a new school should belong to a foundation body is sufficient.
§ Baroness Walmsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the number and type of respondents to the consultation launched on 8 July 2004 which proposed that all proposals to establish new secondary schools should be open to competition. [HL1006]
§ Lord FilkinThe letter from officials of 8 July 2004 was sent to national representative bodies only, in order to inform them of our current thinking on school organisation issues. It was not a formal consultation, but did say the department would be happy to receive74WA comments. In response to the letter the department received responses from nine individual local authorities and the following representative bodies:
- British Humanist Association
- Church of England Archbishops' Council
- Church of England Board of Education
- Institute of School and College Governors
- Local Government Association
- Methodist Church
- National Governors' Council
- National Union of Teachers
- Secondary Heads Association
§ Baroness Walmsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of possible delays in implementing secondary school reorganisation proposals if the requirement to hold a competition on the category and religious character of all new and replacement secondary schools is implemented. [HL1008]
§ Lord FilkinUnder the provisions of the current Education Bill, local authorities will be required to invite proposals from other providers before they publish any proposals of their own for new secondary schools. Proposals by promoters may be for foundation or voluntary schools, and these may have a religious character. Local authorities will need to factor the new arrangements into their planning cycle when considering any reorganisation of secondary education in the area. Once approved, the implementation of proposals should be on the same time-scale as under existing arrangements.